Dr. Holly Tett - Looking Beyond "Good Dog / Bad Dog" - Healing Both Ends of the Lead

About this episode

Dr. Holly Tett discusses the integration of trauma-informed psychology with dog training to promote healing for both dogs and their owners.

A psychologist walks into a dog park… and realises half her clients have tails. That’s pretty much how Dr. Holly Tett discovered her calling — blending trauma-informed psychology with force-free dog training to heal both ends of the lead. In this lively, heartfelt conversation, we talk about why obedience can’t fix overwhelm, how to spot the difference between shut down and calm, and what happens when we finally look at our dogs — and ourselves — through a lens of compassion instead of correction. Plus, you’ll hear the story behind Holly’s now-famous “Cheeky Chicken” elevator game — proof that a bit of silliness can soothe two nervous systems at once. Key takeaways 🐾 The one mistake even experienced guardians make: trying to “train away” big feelings with obedience cues. Skills have their place—but distress needs safety, co-regulation, and time. 🐾 How to tell the difference between shutdown and calm: a still body isn’t always a settled nervous system. Look at the whole dog, not just one body part. 🐾 Why our own stress backfires on walks: when our fight-or-flight kicks in, memory and technique vanish. Regulate you first so you can help your dog regulate. 🐾 A simple pre-walk…

People in this episode

Host: Anke Herrmann

Guest: Dr. Holly Tett

Topics covered

• dog training
• psychology
• trauma-informed care
• compassion
• obedience
• emotional regulation

Keywords

• dog training
• psychology
• emotional regulation
• obedience
• trauma-informed care
• Cheeky Chicken game
• calm vs shutdown

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